Method for making a produce tray

Abstract

This invention provides an easily erected tray structure for produce and the like, featuring construction from a single corrugated blank which is preglued and folded in a flat configuration, and which incorporates at its opposite ends and intermediate thereof interlocking projections providing improved stackability and improved structural integrity during shipment and display usage. A method for producing the tray includes prefolding a blank into a flat configuration and pregluing pairs of panels together, prior to final erection of the box.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for forming a one piece two-tray open top container for produce and the like from a single layer rectangular blank of corrugated board, including the steps of: dividing the rectangular blank by two transverse fold lines into a central section extending one half the length of the rectangular blank and having four transversely extending central panels, and two end sections each extending approximately one quarter of the length of the blank and each including one transversely extending end panel;   folding the end sections on such fold lines into flat abutting relationship with the central section, thereby bringing the terminal edges of the end sections into parallel proximity adjacent the center of the central section, and bringing each end panel into surface abutting relationship with one of said central panels;   glueing each of said end panels to the abutting central panel; and   folding the two glued pairs of said end panels and said central panels into surface abutting relationship, thereby forming a quadruple layer central divider panel extending between said central section and said end sections with said central and end sections respectively forming a top wall and a bottom wall of the container.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 in which the four central panels are divided by transverse fold lines, and folding the opposite outside central panels interiorly of the box each forming a side wall layer, the said folding forming vertical tabs on each side wall projecting from the top thereof, whereby inter-engagement of said tabs with two or more vertically stacked boxes will stabilize them in stacked relationship. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 in which the folding of the said end panels and the two interior ones of the four central panels into surface abutting relationship provides the said central divider panel and further forms a slot at the top of said divider panel, and including inserting a handle through said slot for projecting above the top of the central divider and held by the said two interior folded central panels underneath the top surface of the central divider.